General Attorney (Labor) (Honors Attorney)

Summary

This position is established as part of the National Labor Relations Board Honors program. The Honors program supports positions working in three different program areas: Board-side, General Counsel-Headquarters, and General Counsel-Field.

This position is specifically for the Board-side program area.

The purpose of this position is to provide experience that exposes the employee to the full range of agency legal practices.

Duties

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As a General Attorney (Labor) (Honors Attorney), GS-0905-12, typical work assignments in the Board Office may include:

• Reviewing the formal trial or hearing record, including transcripts of testimony and exhibits, the Hearing Officer's Report, the Administrative Law Judge's Decision, or the Regional Director's Decision, and exceptions, requests for review, and briefs; and
• Researching statutes, decisions, opinions, regulations, legislative history, and other legal authorities on the points of law involved and applying the research to the case at hand; and
• Preparing bench memoranda in consultation with the Assistant Chief Counsel setting forth the contested issues the Board must decide, the relevant facts, the disposition of those issues below, the parties' arguments, and counsel's recommendation as to how the Board should resolve each contested issue; and
• Orally presenting cases to the Board Members for disposition; and
• Drafting official decisions and orders of the Board and/or Board Members' separate dissenting or concurring opinions in consultation with the Assistant Chief Counsel.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• This is not a virtual (remote) position.
• Relocation expenses are not authorized.
• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• This position is part of the Bargaining Unit.
• Applicants may be subject to completion of a two-year trial period.
• This is a positive education position. Transcripts are required to be considered for this position.
• You will be required to sign an Honors Program Participant Agreement.
• Active Bar license is required for verification. Bar license must reference Bar number and indicate the status of good standing. A Self-Certification Form is not acceptable verification.
• Selectee may be subject to a background investigation prior to appointment.
• Must submit complete application package online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

Qualifications

All qualifications and eligibility requirements specified in the announcement must be met by the closing date of the job announcement.

Ideal Candidate Statement

The ideal candidate for the General Attorney (Labor) (Honors Attorney) will have a strong academic law school record, currently be serving in a judicial clerkship, or law fellowship, or honors attorney position, or be in the last year of an advanced law degree (e.g., LL.M or J.S.D.) from an ABA accredited law school, and hold a Bar license. Candidates should have strong legal research and oral and written communications skills. Candidates should also have experience or course study in labor or industrial relations and the National Labor Relations Act.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Education: An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LL.B or JD).

Bar Membership and Certification: Must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Your active bar license must reference bar number and indicate the status of good standing. Agency Internal Self-Certification Forms are not acceptable for verification.

In order to meet the basic eligibility requirements, applicants must also have at least one of the following:

• A GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 or above (or equivalent) or are in the top 25% of their law school class or their school does not use a numerical GPA/rank; OR
• Have previously interned or worked at the NLRB or another labor agency; OR
• Have other specialized labor law or labor relations experience.

In addition to the Basic Eligibility Requirements, applicants must also meet the following:

Minimum Qualifications

To be eligible for the General Attorney (Labor) (Honors Attorney), GS-0905-12 position and grade, applicants must meet one of the following qualifications:

• Currently serving in at least a one (1)-year post-law school experience as a judicial clerk, honors attorney; OR
• A legal fellow that was started within six (6) months of graduating with my first professional law degree (J.D. LL.B); OR
• In the last year of an advanced law degree (e.g., LL.M or J.S.D.) from an ABA accredited law school that was started within six (6) months of graduating with my first professional law degree (J.D. or LL.B).

Specialized Experience

Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the GS-12, General Attorney (Labor) (Honors Attorney), and that is typically related to the work of the position to be filled.

Specialized experience includes:

• Experience providing analysis and/or the interpretation of issues that may include legal and/or policy matters; and
• Experience performing legal research and recommendations based on legal principles to substantiate cases; and
• Experience communicating orally to relay and explain legal issues and factual scenarios in a legal environment.

This experience must be fully supported and articulated in your resume to receive consideration. Please do not cut and paste the specialized experience from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

NOTE: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Applicants must have successfully completed a full course of study in a law school accredited by the ABA and have their first professional law degree (J.D. or LL.B).

OR

Applicants must be currently in process of obtaining an advanced law degree (e.g., LL.M or J.S.D) from a law school accredited by the ABA.

You must meet all qualification requirements. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

The Board program area of the Honors Program is also accepting applications for a Law Clerk (Trainee) GS-0904-11 (Notice of Vacancy NL27EX[redacted]ZA) and Law Clerk (Trainee) GS-0904-12 (Notice of Vacancy NL27EX[redacted]ZA).

Additionally, the General Counsel-Headquarters and General Counsel-Field (Regional Office) have posted Notices of Vacancy for their respective program areas. We encourage individuals who may be interested in any of these positions to review the applicable Notices of Vacancy to determine qualifications and/or eligibilities. Please visit the NLRB's Honors Program webpage for additional information about the different program areas and Notices of Vacancy.

SUPPLEMENTARY VACANCIES

Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.